Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are traveling to Saudi Arabia to initiate negotiations for peace between Russia and Ukraine. President Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about starting negotiations to end the war, with both countries agreeing to begin negotiations immediately. Senior Trump administration officials have been discussing the Russia-Ukraine war at the Munich Security Conference, with Rubio speaking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kellogg defending the idea of engaging with Putin to achieve peace.
While some administration members have suggested possible concessions from Russia, Trump declined to specify any specifics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated support for negotiations in which Ukraine cedes territory already seized by Russia, acknowledging that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders may be unrealistic. The focus of potential negotiations could include Russia’s willingness to cede territory and targeting Putin’s oil revenue, as well as enforcing sanctions against Russia.
The U.S. is likely to support negotiations that involve Ukraine ceding territory, with the goal of a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. However, there is no agreement on Ukraine joining NATO as part of a negotiated peace. The administration believes that talking to adversaries is necessary for achieving peace, and that any potential negotiations will depend on what Russia is willing to offer. The trio of officials traveling to Saudi Arabia will work towards facilitating these negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
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